A Mowing Nightmare Becomes Eye Candy

By Kerry Ann Mendez

The July weather in Maine is usually gorgeous - sunny, dry and just what the tourists love. However, this can often mean that lawns can suffer and brown out while gardens pant for water.

As a garden designer, I like to work with plants that can endure stretches of inconsistent watering (although even drought tolerant plants need water at some point!). Two summers ago, I designed and planted a "ledge" garden for my sister Kim. This rocky outcrop is in full sun in her backyard and is a focal point looking from the window over her kitchen sink.

Included are pictures that I took before I started working on the bed (note the browned out grass from extreme heat and drought) and right after I installed the garden (three hours later).

Here is a photo I took the following summer. I've added a few more plants since the original planting. My sister is careful to water the new plants for a week or two after planting, but after this "coddling" period, the garden is pretty much left on its own!

Below are some of the sun worshippers in this Zone 5 garden. We carry all of these at Estabrook's (based on availability).

Coneflower 'Cheyenne Spirit' - 18-24", Zone 4-8

Dwarf Nepeta 'Cat's Pajamas' - 12-14", Zone 3�8

Panicum 'Cheyenne Sky' - 30-38", Zones 4�9

Also included:

• Creeping Thyme
• Callirhoe involucrata
• Achillea 'Moonshine'
• Hens and Chicks
• Dianthus 'Frosty Fire'
• Creeping Sedums
• Ornamental Oregano 'Kent's Beauty'